Window regulator



i March 10, 1936. `1 RQETHEL 2,033,788

wINDow REGULATOR Filed Sept. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. '$0577Hoeel.

Mim-

AT RNEYS.

March 11o, 193s.

JT H. ROETHEL .WINDOW REGULATOR v Filed sept. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2f ffif .I--. lf

INVENTOR.

J'QN? H Hoeel.

M) @abw- 9M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. l0, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW REGULATOR JohnH. Roethel, Detroit, Mich..` assignor to4 Automobile Ventilation, Inc.,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan My invention relates to windowregulators particularly adapted for use in vehicle bodies wherein thewindows are mounted for horizontal as well as vertical sliding movement,such windows being hereinafter referred to as two-direction slidingWindows.

It is an object of my invention to provide a window regulator for usewith two-direction sliding windows having improved means for positivelyshifting the Window vertically and also horizontally in the plane of thewindow when the latter is in predetermined elevated position.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a windowregulator which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install andparticularly adapted for use in the production assemblies of windows andregulators as, for example, in the construction of y windows in motorvehicle bodies.

Other objects of this invention Will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views. l

Fig, 1 is a fragmentary side elevation with parts broken away of a doorof a motor vehicle body showing a window regulator embodying myinvention installed therein showing the window glass in the closedposition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the window glass and theparts of the regulator embodying my invention in the position forproviding a vent opening between the forward edge of the glass and thefront door pillar.

Fig. 3 is a similar View to Fig. 2 but showing a modification of thewindow regulator embodying my invention. Fig. 3Ais a detail sectiontaken on lines3-3 of Fig. 3. V' f Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1showing a modified form of V*window regulator embodying my invention. fA

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line in the direction of thearrows of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 in the direction of thearrows of Fig. 2.

Fig. y'7 is a fragmentary elevation showing another lmodification of myinvention.

Before explaining in detailthe present inVention it is to be`nnd'erstood that' the invention is l` not limited in'its `applicationto the details of construction and-arrangement of parts illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, since the inven-A tion is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Alsoit is to be understoodl that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and itis not intended to limit the invention claimed herein 5 beyond therequirements of the prior art.

There is shown in the drawings an automobile door 20 having a frontpillar 2| in which is placed a glass runway channel 22. 'I'he door 20 isprovided with a rear pillar 23 having a deep glass 10 runway channel 24terminating at the window sill and thence provided with a shallowchannel 24a extending below the window sill. A window glass 25 isprovided and is adapted for slidable movement vertically in the channels22, 24 and 15 24a, and horizontally into the deep channel 24. Achannel-shaped retainer strip 26 is secured to the bottom of the glass25. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the window regulator mechanism 21 may beinstalled at any suitable place in the door 20, 20 such for example ason the lock board, and is provided with a xed supporting plate 30.Rotatably mounted on the supporting plate 30 are meshed gears 3| and 32.A rotatable handle 33 is provided to actuate the regulator mechanism 25.21 and is suitably attached to a driving pinion 34 meshed With a gearsector preferably punched from the same metal blank as the gear 32. Inthe present embodimentsof the invention the window regulator is shown byway of example 30 as of the two armtype and comprises a pair of swingingarms 31 and 40 for raising and lowering` the window, these arms carryingat their outer ends button devices or headed studs 42 and 43,respectively, which slide longitudinally in 35 channel ways formed inthe retainer strip 26. The arm 40 also is provided with a lateral camextension 4| constructed for the purposeof shifting lthe windowhorizontally and locking the window when the latter is in predeterminedele- 40 vated position. In one embodiment of my invention as shown inFigs. 3 and 4, the cam extension 4| is provided with a cam slot 44 andan extending finger 45. A plate 46 depends from the channel retainerV 4526 and.is provided with a pin or stud v41 whichv is secured thereto at aposition where it maybe engaged in the slot 44. AV curved camsurface-till' is formed on the extension 4| between the slot 44 andthestd 43.l l T50 In the embodiment of myfinvention shown in Figs. 1land ;2 the'cam extension 4| isprovided' with an extending side or camforming" edgev 5| adapted to engagefthe side of the pin 41 fforretracting the glass. In this embodiment of my invention the contact ofthe cam edge 5| with the pin 41 is employed for the shifting of theglass 25 in one horizontal direction, whereas in the embodiment of myinvention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the opposite edges of the slot 44engage successively the pin 41 to shift the window 25 in a forward aswell as a rearward horizontal direction.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 7 the cam 4| carries apin or stud 53 which contacts successively with cam edges or surfaces54a and 54b formed on a plate 54 secured to the glass retainer 26.

The glass retainer 26as shown in Fig. 6 is provided with a U-shapedglass receiving channel 55 forming the upper side of a runway 56 andhaving felt or similar glass engaging cushioning elements 51 securedtherein. Secured to the U shaped glass receiving channel 55 is a member58 forming the back and bottom portion of the runway. As here shown therunway 56 has a constricted front opening extending longitudinally ofthe channel 26 which is of less height than the diameter of the studs 42and 43 thereby interlocking the latter against withdrawal during theirnormal sliding movement Within the runway 56. The member 58 is providedwith a lower extending lip 59 which, as hereinafter described, providesa bearing portion. The member 58 may have a cut-away notched portion inthe bottom thereof, as shown at 60 in Fig. 3, providing an openingthrough which the enlarged heads of the studs 42 and 43 are insertedvertically into the runway 56. A Variation of this construction is shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 6, wherein instead of the cut-away opening 60 theextending lip 59 is pressed to provide depressed notch portions 6| and62 which are adapted to permit the installation of the heads of thestuds 42 and 43 through the face of the member 58 in order to occupytheir operative positions Within the runway 56. In this embodiment of myinvention the back wall of member 58 is punched inwardly to provide alug 63 which extends into the runway 56 and is contacted by the stud 43to shift the window glass 25 horizontally in one direction.

The studs 42 and 43 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, are each provided with anenlarged head 64 and a restricted neck 65, and are secured to therespective arms 31 or 40 by riveting or other suitable means. Mounted onthe restricted neck portion 65 of each stud is a conical washer 66 whichis yieldingly held in position by a spring 61. The conical washerengages correspondingly shaped flared bearing surfaces formed by the lip59 and the outer lower side off the channel strip 55.

In the operation of the several embodiments it will be seen that thewindow glass 25 will be raised and lowered in a vertical direction as aresult of the swinging movement ofthe regulator arms 31 and 40, thesearms swinging toward and from each other in conventional manner andbeing operated by the gearing from the usual crank handle 33. Duringthis operation the headed studs or buttons 42 and 43 travel longitricwith the axis of swinging of arm 4| it will simply contact With the pinthus providing a supporting medium so that at this time the window willhave a three-point support. At the same time the cam 50 while inengagement with pin 41 will lock the window glass against rearwardsliding movement into the deep channel. Hence, as the window glass movesinto elevated position opposite the deep channel 24, at which time itsrear vertical edge will be unsupported, the window will be maintainedagainst tilting movement and also against rearward sliding movement byvirtue of the three-point support formed by studs 42 and 43 and cam 50contacting with pin 41. When the window glass reaches its full elevatedposition the pin 41 moves into engagement with the upper end of cam face5| and continued swinging movement of arm 4| will result in shifting theglass rearwardly into the deep channel by virtue of the engagement ofstud 43 with the lug 63. During this operation pin 41 travels along theedge of cam 5| so that the window glass will be locked in anyhorizontally moved position except when the regulator arms are swung. Itwill be seen from Fig. 2 that when the arms are swung in the oppositedirection the cam 5| will engage pin 41 and shift the windowhorizontally into closed position, and upon continued downward swingingmovement of the arms the window will then be lowered.

'I'he operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. '1 substantiallycorresponds to that above described since in this instance certain ofthe operating parts are simply reversed. That is to say, the cam surface54a, which is concentric with the axis of swinging of lthe arm 40,cooperates with the pin 53 and performs therewith the same function asthe cam 50 and pin 41 of the previous embodiment. Moreover, the camsurface 54h in cooperation with the pin 53 performs the`same function asthe cam 5| and pin 41 in eifecting a horizontal retraction of the windowin its upper closed position.

In each of the preceding embodiments it will be seen that the notchedportions 6| and 62 formed in the lower horizontal flanges of the runwaysprovide lopenings of sufficient diameter to permit direct andsimultaneous insertion of the button devices 42 and 43 into the runwayswhen the window glass is being assembled with the regulator arms.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, in thisinstance as the regulator arm 40 is swung upwardly to move the glassvertically into closed position, the cam 50 will travel into contactwith the pin 41 thus supporting the window glass and locking it againsthorizontal displacement into the deep channel, as in the previousembodiments. In this instance the opposite edges of the cam slot 44provide the means for successively shifting the window horizontally inopposite directions, the forward edge of the cam slot performing thesame function in moving the window into Ventilating .position as the lug63 and stud 43 in the previous embodiment and the rear edge of the camslot performing the same function as the cam 5I or 54h.

In assembling the regulator arms with the retainer strip 26 in theembodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the arms are first moved into extremeupright positions whereby the studs 42 and 43 under-lie the cut-awayopening 60 in the bottom of the runway. The window glass is then shifteddownwardly and vertically until the studs lie opposite the inner ends ofthe runways and then the regulator arms are cranked so as to swing thearms apart and shift the studs horizontally into the runways. Since itis necessary during this operation to install the pin 41 in the cam slot44, the outer edge of the extension 4| is formed with an embossed camportion 4|a, see Fig. 3A. Thus, as the arm 40 is swung to the left inorder to project the stud 43 into the runway, atthe same time theinclined cam portion 4|a will ride up over the end of pin 41 springingthe cam extension 4| outwardly sufiiciently to permit travel of the pin41 into the cam slot 44.

In the foregoing embodiment means is provided for limiting the downwardmovement of the window glass at its lowest position. This isaccomplished in Figs. 3 and 4 by meansl of a projecting stop 80 on gear3| which, as the arms swing downwardly to the lowest position, engagesthe lower edge of-the plate 30 and prevents fur-l ther movement of thewindow into the door well. If desired the lower limit of movement of thewindow glass may be determined by means of rubber bumpersv8| and 82mounted in the lower ends of the glass runways and in position to beengaged by the glass.

I claim:

1. A regulator for a window mounted for vertical sliding movement andfor horizontal movement in the plane of the window when the latter is inelevated position, comprising a retainer member adapted to be secured tothe lower edge of a window and having a longitudinal horizontal runway,said regulator including a swinging arm having a projecting deviceslidable in said runway for raising and lowering the window, saidretainer member having astop integrally formed from said member, andprojecting into said runway into the path of said device and adapted tobe engaged by said device when the window is in elevated position forsliding the window horizontally. l

2. A regulator for a window mounted for vertical sliding movement andfor horizontal movement in the plane of the window when the latter is inelevated position, comprising a retainer member adapted to be secured tothe lower edge of a window and having a longitudinal horizontal runway,said regulator including a swinging arm having a projecting deviceslidable in said runway for raising and lowering the window, saidretainer member having a stop struck out from the metal of said member,and projecting into said runway into the path of said device and adaptedto be engaged by said device when the window is in fully elevatedposition for sliding the window horizontally.

3. A regulator for a window mounted for vertical sliding movement andfor horizontal movement in its plane when the window is in predeterminedelevated position, including a retainer member adapted to be secured tothe lower edge of a window and having a longitudinal horizontal guidewaytherein, a depending extension carried by said member, said regulatoralso including a swinging arm having a projecting device slidinglyreceived in said guideway for raising and lowering the window, saidretainer member having a stop formed from the metal thereof andprojecting into the path of said device and adapted to be engagedthereby for shifting the window horlzontally, and means carried by saidarm separate from said device and adaptedto engage said extension forshifting the window horizontally in the opposite direction.

4. A regulator for a window mounted for vertical sliding movement andfor horizontal movement in its plane when the window is in predeterminedelevated position, a retainer member adapted to be secured to the loweredge of a window and having a longitudinal horizontal guideway, adepending extension carried by said member, said regulator including aswinging arm having a projecting device slidingly received in saidguideway for raising and lowering the window, said retainer memberhaving a stop formed from the metal thereof and projecting into the pathof said device and adapted to be engaged thereby for shifting the windowhorizontally, means carried by said arm separate from said device andadapted to engage said extension for shifting the window horizontally inthe opposite direction, and cooperating cam means carried by said armand extension for locking the window against horizontal movement at apredetermined elevated position of the window.

5. In a regulator mechanism for a window mounted for vertical andhorizontal sliding movement, a retainer member secured to the lower edgeof the window and having a longitudinal runway, a regulator including aswinging arm having a device slidable in said runway for raising andlowering the window, a stop in said runway engageable by said device forshifting the window horizontally in one direction, and an extensioncarried by said arm and having means cooperating with said retainermember for shifting the window horizontally in the opposite direction.

6. In a regulator mechanism for a window mounted for vertical andhorizontal sliding movement, a retainer member secured to the lower edgeof the window and having a longitudinal runway, a regulator including aswinging arm having a device slidable in said runway for raising andlowering the window, a stop in said runway engageable by said device forshifting the window horizontally in one direction, and an extensioncarried by said arm and having means cooperating with said retainermember for shifting the window horizontally in the opposite direction,lsaid extension also 'having means for locking said window againsthorizontal movement when in predetermined elevated position.

7. In a regulator mechanism for a window mounted for vertical andhorizontal sliding movement, a retainer member secured to the lower edgeof the window and having a longitudinal runway, a regulator including aswinging arm having a device slidable in said runway for raising andlowering the window, a stop in said runway engageable by said device forshifting the window horizontally in one direction, a l

depending extension on said retainer member and an angular extension onsaid arm, said extensions having separate cooperating means forsuccessively shifting the window horizontally in the opposite directionand for locking the window against horizontal movement when inpredetermined elevated position. V

8. A window regulator comprising a pair of swinging arms, a retainerchannel secured to the lower edge of a window and having an open runwayextending longitudinally thereof, studs secured to said arms andextending into said runway, said runway having an opening or openingsthereinto adapted to permit the installation of said studs, and a lug onone side of said channel and projecting into said runway for contact byone of said studs for shifting the window in its horizontal plane.

9. A window regulator adapted to impart vertical and horizontal slidingmovement to a Window and including a, xed supporting plate, swingingarms pivotally mounted thereon, means for swinging said arms, aretaining channel provided with a longitudinal guideway and adapted formounting on the lower edge of the window, studs secured to said swingingarms and extending in said runway, means integral with said runway andadapted for contact with one of said studs to slide the Window in itshorizontal plane in one direction, a depending member secured to saidchannel, a member secured to one of said arms and adapted to contactsaid depending member to slide the window in its horizontal plane in anopposite direction and to lock the window against movement in itshorizontal plane while moving in a vertical direction.

10. In ,a regulator mechanism for a window mounted for vertical slidingmovement and also for horizontal movement in its plane when the windowis in predetermined elevated position, comprising a retainer memberadapted to be secured to the lower edge of the window and having alongitudinal guideway, regulator mechanism including a swinging armhaving a device interlocked in said guideway and slidable therein forraising and lowering the window, a stop carried by said retainer memberand engageable by said device for shifting the window in its planehorizontally in one direction, and separate means carried by said armand cooperating with said retainer member for shifting the windowhorizontally in the opposite direction.

1l. In a regulator mechanism for a window mounted for vertical andhorizontal sliding movement, a retainer member secured to the lower edgeof the window and having a longitudinal runway, a regulator including astationary supporting plate, swinging arms having devices slidable insaid runway for raising and lowering the window, a stop in said runwayengageable by one of said devices for shifting the window horizontallyin one direction, means carried by one of said arms cooperating withsaid retainer member for shifting the window horizontally in theopposite direction, meshed gears secured to said arms for swinging thesame, driving mechanism for operating said gears, and a stop attached toone of said meshed gears and adapted to engage said supporting plate tolimit the downward swinging movement of said arms.

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

